Students in the America’s Teen Mogul program with Nick Cannon Foundation Executive Director Ronnie Highsmith at the Microsoft store in SouthPark. Microsoft and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are partnering with Cannon.

Could Charlotte become the launchpad for a generation of business moguls?

A foundation started by onetime Charlotte resident and actor/media entrepreneur Nick Cannon, Microsoft and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are collaborating on America's Teen Mogul, a competition and career readiness workshops.

The student business plan competition is designed to expose young people from ages 12-19 to global career and entrepreneurship opportunities available in high demand industries, such as coding and science, technology, engineering and math. The final ATM event will take place at CMS's second annual CTE Fair on Feb. 23 at the Charlotte Convention Center.

“I am truly inspired by the collective community support for this event and excited about this wonderful opportunity to teach and expose Charlotte youth to the myriad of career and entrepreneurship opportunities available in the global economy,” Cannon said in a statement. "As a product of the Charlotte community and public school system, I feel a sense of responsibility to give back and to motivate others get involved.”

With an expanding pool of technology careers in the Charlotte area, the district’s second annual CTE Fair will help educate students about career opportunities and CTE course offerings as well as meet area employers. The CTE Fair will expose students early to all career paths so that upon entering high school they can begin to prepare for their careers, regardless if the career requires a four-year degree.

“We’re honored to team with CMS and the local business community in fostering work-based learning and a system of regional career pathways to launch young people and middle-skill adults into good jobs with advancement potential,” said Ronnie Highsmith, executive director and board member at the Nick Cannon Foundation.

The ATM program will connect business partners with students and teachers. Student teams will present business concepts, products they produce, and business problems they solve with members of the local business community. Cannon will act as lead judge with a "Shark Tank"-style panel of local high-demand industry leaders and entrepreneurs.

Previous ATM business concept favorites include biomedical solutions, game design apps, crime-solving apps, healthcare innovations, podcast focused on internet safety, and tech-based mental health solutions. Students will compete for prizes up to $5,000 and wireless headsets by T-Mobile.

The Foundation held the first of a series of competition and career readiness Workshops last month at the Microsoft Store in SouthPark Mall. Yong people between ages 12-19 can register for the ATM competition until November 23 at www.nickcannonfoundation.org to download rules and guidelines.